Annette Low: alumni profile

One of the first Year 12 graduates of CCGS, Annette Low (nee Turner) (1986) has carved an incredible and diverse career. From working at peak lobby groups in Canberra to an incredible 25 year journey in environmental and outdoor education, Annette's unique program has inspired hundreds of students to become leaders in sustainable design.

You graduated from CCGS in 1996, where did you go and what did you do? 
Life after school included a year at Macquarie University, a year travelling in Europe, 3 years at University of Canberra followed by a couple of years working for a peak lobby group also in Canberra.  After that, I think I found the very special career Mr Chambers told me was out there for me. A series of serendipitous meetings saw me leap from the corporate career highway to a now 25 year journey in environmental and outdoor education starting with a three year Director role at a not for profit Outdoor Education Centre in Victoria with my husband, Dean. I found that living simply, being in nature and sharing unstructured time and conversations with young people was a beautiful and purposeful life.  When we left Victoria we completed a Permaculture Design course and then drove in our 1960 Bedford Bus to the South Coast of NSW where we started designing a sustainable camp.  By the time our son came along four months later we had a roof over the bus, cold running water and solid community support for The Crossing project.

Tell us a little bit about The Crossing and what inspired you to establish the organisation?  
21 years ago the vision was to create a place where young people could experience an ecological way of life that was transferable to their every day and that included inspiring journeys in beautiful natural places and meaningful practical conservation work. The inspiration simply put…there is only one earth.

With the helping hands of thousands of volunteers and students over many years, The Crossing is now a unique one class, permaculture designed sustainable camp that develops youth leadership in sustainable design.  Its sustainable systems incorporate off grid electricity generation, water collection, storage and treatment, organic food production and composting.  Inspiring journeys feature canoe, bushwalking and biking in our surrounding national parks and meaningful conservation work includes habitat survey and tree planting – 18,000 trees so far on the banks of a once treeless river.

What’s involved in running your own educational camps?
Boundless energy, enthusiasm and a whole lot of organisation. 

What are your dreams for The Crossing?
We set The Crossing up as a not for profit trust gifting the land way back in 2006 so that it would continue long after we no longer did. I hope that young people from schools all over NSW continue to be inspired to be leaders in sustainable design by the systems, journeys and conservation they experience at The Crossing for a long time to come. It would be a delight to host a CCGS group one day.

What is your favourite memory of CCGS? 
Being in the first graduating Year 12 for CCGS I would have to say my enduring memory is the strong relationships forged between teachers and the very small cohort of students. Just 30 of us formed that first graduating year. My largest class was 13 students, my smallest just two. In fact, some of my ancient history classes were held at the teachers' house on a Saturday! The swimming pool outside the original office was also sweet relief after hot days.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your high school self?  
Do an exchange and learn another language. Play outside in nature at every opportunity.